So after sorting through and creating some comparison picture sets below, it's clear that there is difference in the cab strike plate recess mounting area between the 1951 and earlier cabs and the 1952 and later cabs. The later cabs recess is a little deeper for the strike plate mounting surface as well as the channel where the latch slides into the strike plate. The overall recess size top to bottom and front to back are pretty much the same, just deeper.
In addition to there being a difference in the strike plates, there is a clear difference between the earlier and later latches, both in function, design and depth of the latch. As well as a difference in the latch to door mounting hole locations (the upper mount hole in the later latches is toward the inner face of the door where the earlier latch upper mount hole is located near the outer face of the door).
Hopefully this gives Joe what he needs to pursue hie door change out.
